Billy Idol's back and just as spiky

"If you want me to come over there and give you a good kicking, I will."

Billy Idol might be 47 years old and touring Australia for the first time in more than 15 years, but he still knows how to get attention.

The journalist Idol threatened had asked whether he still deserved his punk rock image. She took the threat in his reply in the lighthearted spirit of its delivery.

With his trademark spiky, peroxided hair and snarl firmly in place, Idol reckons a good thing lasts forever - and after 15 years, he must be hoping his fans agree.

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His tour down under coincides with the release of his greatest hits album, which he said shows he's still got what it takes to rock with the best of 'em.

"Considering that they're 20 years old some of the songs, they don't sound it, they don't feel it and they certainly don't look it when we're performing," the punk rocker told a Sydney press conference yesterday.